So my first trip to Umami Asian Kitchen didn't come until recently, when the Jeni's Ice Cream shop opened up and eager Clevelanders descended upon Main Street. When we walked into the restaurant,"R" and I were surprised to find only a handful of tables, and the chef happily creating in the open, tight kitchen space in the back. There was no wait, and we started to peruse the brief menu. I personally felt that there were enough options for the average diner to be able to find something appealing, and I always appreciate a brief menu selection if you just focus on quality and nailing every dish. I won't say that Chef Matt is quite nailing it yet, but he's coming pretty darn close based on our first experience there.
Thankfully, some tweeps had recommended the Udon Noodles and any fish special. This helped steer our decisions. We started with some Goat Cheese Dumplings with seared greens and a soy ginger butter ($8.50).
The goat cheese flavor was a little lost, and perhaps would have stood out if the dumplings were larger. I combined a couple in a few bites and the result was a tad better. But overall, we enjoyed the Asian-inspired flavors and we weren't off to a bad start.Then, a surprise greeted us at the table. Chef Matthew had graciously sent out a complimentary appetizer for us to try. This time, it was a pork belly dish that is similar to the Crispy Pork Belly on the regular menu but this version had been served the night before at one of their special wine dinners. At first I was hesitant, because I have an issue with fatty meat and pork belly has never been a favorite of mine. Anderson changed my mind. Um, wow! "R" and I were both fighting over the last few bites, and it left me believing that I could like pork belly after all.
Next up were our entrees. I had gone with the Udon Noodles with spicy beef, shiitakes, bok choy, basil, ginger, Parmesan, and dashi ($17). 
The thick noodles absorbed the traditional Asian flavors well, and with just a subtle bit of heat to the dish- it was very enjoyable. Although, the dish did not reheat well the next day. Several of the regular main dishes had peaked "R's" interest, but he went with the fish special. The grouper was fresh and prepared well, with the chef's simplistict approach shining through.We were both happy with our meal, but the real highlight was the pork belly dish. It pushed our experience to another level, and the chef's lighthearted pleasure in doing what he does best helped keep it there. Even in the hustle and bustle of his tiny kitchen, he took a few moments to talk to us after the meal. I signed up for their email list to be notified of upcoming wine dinners and other special events, and I encourage you to do so as well.
A big thank you to Chef Anderson for a nice evening out trying some quality Asian cuisine that we don't often get in our neck of the woods, and for reminding me that Chagrin Falls is a great little pocket of restaurants and shops and we need to get over there more often! A nice stroll by the falls topped off the night.
Umami Asian Kitchen
42 Main Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
(440)247-8600
SOHO is about to open on West 25th Street in Ohio City, so I was interested to try their dish. It was a light watermelon salad with a jalapeno vinaigrette. The heat of the dish overpowered it slightly, but other than that I loved the balance of flavors and light, crisp texture and it left my tongue dancing. Looking forward to their opening!
Another personal favorite was the chorizo pierogi from 
One station that was causing quite a stir is 
Overall it was a nice event, and it's always fun to see our city's best chefs gather together for a good cause. If you want to attend a traditional Dinner in the Dark, don't miss the
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Then we took a break and chowed down on some grub from 
After enjoying our food, we headed back out onto the floor for more samples. Several of my "tweeps" had attended on Friday night or Saturday afternoon, and one in particular had raved about Kuhnhenn Creme Brulee Stout.
So we located the stand, sampled away, and I declared that I was done. This.was.it. I'm not even a stout lover like "R", but that beer was delicious and I couldn't go back. So we happily ended our tour and headed home. Maybe there is a beer lover deep inside me after all....
Guests are offered the chance to dine on delicious sushi from Dante of Restaurant 
I really enjoyed the Raspberry Wheat, and the sample of the light summer cocktail that they served was refreshing and I'd order it on my own. After giving us some time to chat, owner Scott Kuhn welcomed the group and gave us some highlights of the changes that they've made since opening last fall. Then he introduced us to the infamous Farmer Lee Jones, who talked to us about his 
It included a whole pig with two different types of BBQ sauce, slaw, some of the best baked beans that I've ever had, cornbread, deviled eggs, and more. It was all delicious!
At South Side, I felt like we got a lot of "bang for our buck" with the brunch entrees prices at $9 and $7. We were seated on the enclosed patio with lots of sunlight pouring in, and brunch hit the spot that day. So just in case you didn't realize that this popular 
The broccoli was a hit, with its sweet and spicy sauces and light batter. I would order this again for sure, and "R" even enjoyed the pieces that I brought home with me.
Overall, we liked the atmosphere and food/drink menu and we'll be back for more. It also looked like garage doors will open up for some outside seating once the warmer weather settles in. Now that's my kind of restaurant!
While they weren't quite as good as Reddstone's Macho Nachos, these were fresh and tasty with plenty of toppings that lasted through all of the chips. This is a rare occurrence, and one that I appreciated.